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Zones 4-6

Hardiness Zone(s):

Zones 4-6

The Douglasfir can be expected to grow
in the zones listed. More information can be found on the arborday.org
zone map.
Click to view map

Evergreen

Type of Tree:

The Douglasfir falls into the following type(s): Evergreen

40' to 70' High

Mature Height:

The Douglasfir grows to be 40' to 70' feet in height.

12' to 20' Spread

Mature Spread:

The Douglasfir has a spread of about 12' to 20' at full maturity.

Medium Growth

Growth Rate:

This tree grows at a Medium growth rate.

Multiple Exposures

Sun Exposure:

The Douglasfir does well in Full, Partial Shade exposure(s).

Various Soils

Soil:

The Douglasfir grows in Acidic, Moist, Well Drained soils.

Pyramidal

Shape:

The Douglasfir has a(n) Pyramidal shape.

More Info

Attributes:

The Douglasfir is to the world of trees what a decathlon winner is to the Olympics. This tree is an all-around champion. It is one of our most important lumber species, a magnificent ornamental tree, and one of the most popular Christmas trees in America. Additionally, a large number of bird and animal species find shelter and food in its majestic foliage. These particular Douglasfir seedlings are grown from seed from Lincoln Memorial Forest in NM.

Wildlife Value:

Douglasfir seeds are used by blue grouse,songbirds, squirrels, rabbits, and other rodents and small animals. Antelope, deer, elk, mountain goats, and mountain sheep eat the twigs and foliage. It provides excellent cover for a wide range of animals.

History/Lore/Use:

While the Douglasfir may have first been introduced to cultivation by botanist-explorer David Douglas in 1826, its importance to American history continues unabated. As well as being the country's top source of lumber today, the Douglasfir also helped settle the West, providing railroad ties and telephone/telegraph poles. The Douglasfir was crucial to American soldiers in World War II as well, being used for everything from GIs' foot lockers to portable huts and even the rails of stretchers that carried many a soldier from battle. But perhaps one contribution of the Douglasfir symbolizes its place in America's evolving history more than any other. When in 1925 the time came to restore the masts of "Old Ironsides," the USS Constitution, sufficiently grand White Pine trees could no longer be found. Today, Old Ironsides proudly sails in the Boston Navy Yard under the power of three Douglasfir masts.
There are two geographical varieties of Douglasfir: Coast Douglasfir, Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii native to British Columbia along the Pacific coast to central California and western Nevada; Rocky Mountain Douglasfir native to the inland mountains of the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountains from central British Columbia south to northern and central Mexico. The Coastal variety is faster growing, long-lived, and can reach over 300' tall. The needles are usually a dark yellow-green although some trees they may be bluish green. Rocky Mountain Douglasfir, Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca is hardier, slower growing, shorter lived and seldom grows over 130' tall. The needles are shorter and bluish green although in some trees may be yellowish green. The cones are barely 3" in length with bracts bent upwards.
Douglasfir is written as one word or hyphenated to show it is not a true fir.

Flower Color:

Bloom Time:

April-May

Fruit Description:

The light brown, oval, pendulous cones are 3-4 inches long with prominent 3-pointed bracts that protrude between the scales.

Botanist-explorer David Douglas—this tree’s namesake—described it as “one of the most striking and truly graceful objects in nature.” Tree expert Michael Dirr heralded it as “one of the noblest forest trees.” To say the Douglasfir is beloved by the tree people of the world is definitely accurate.

The general public has a number of reasons to appreciate this tree as well. Douglasfir is one of the nation’s most important lumber species, it makes up nearly half of all Christmas trees grown in the U.S., and its attractive appearance and growth rate make it popular in yards and parks.

Spring Shipping 2016

Fall Shipping 2016

Color

Zone

Approximate Ship Dates

Order Deadline

Approximate Ship Dates

Order Deadline

02

04/17 - 05/30

05/05

11/14 - 11/28

11/11

03

04/17 - 05/30

05/05

11/14 - 11/28

11/11

04

04/17 - 05/30

05/05

11/14 - 11/28

11/11

05

04/17 - 05/30

05/05

11/14 - 11/28

11/11

06

03/13 - 05/12

04/28

11/14 - 12/05

11/18

07

02/13 - 05/08

04/21

11/14 - 12/12

11/25

08

02/13 - 05/01

04/14

11/14 - 12/12

11/25

09

02/13 - 05/01

04/14

11/14 - 12/12

11/25

10

02/13 - 05/01

04/14

11/14 - 12/12

11/25

We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI, territories, or countries outside the United States. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree and plant is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it within one year of shipment.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

They are very affordable.

Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.